Guild Points

Historical Background

Caduceus (greek Kerykeion) was the staff of Apollo, Greek god of sunlight, music, medicine and poetry. It was renowned for its power to reconcile any two opposing forces in nature.

In the story of Hermes, the Greek god who was charged with the task of messenger of the Gods, Hermes, during his infancy, set out to venture into the world. He came across a turtle, killed it, and hollowed out the shell. He made a lyre by stringing several cattle sinews hide through it. Apollo then came to Hermes, demanding compensation for a herd of cattle he stole from him a day earlier, not to mention two he had slaughtered and eaten. Hermes, fearing the gods' judgment, took Apollo to where he had hidden his cattle. After the matter was resolved, he took his lyre and started to play it. Apollo, though God of music and master of the winded instruments, was fascinated by this new invention. He offered to forgo the two missing cattle if Hermes would give him the lyre, but he refused at first. He then offered Caduceus to Hermes. To demonstrate its power, he found two snakes that were locked in combat, hissing and biting each other violently. He thrust it between them, and they immediately became docile, coiling themselves around the staff. It is because of this that Caduceus is seen bearing two snakes upon its ornamented end.

It's no coincidence Square Enix chose this symbol to be an aid of Alchemy, seeing its power to combine elements in nature and make them work in unison to an end.